Consultant - Institutional Capacity Assessment Methodology Development and Validation

Position details

• Vacancy number: 2604969
• Contractual arrangement: External consultant
• Contract duration: 3 Months
• Organization: AF/DPC Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Control
• Schedule: Full-time
• Closing date: Nov 28, 2026, 3:59:00 AM

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device's system settings.

Purpose of consultancy

To provide overall technical and methodological leadership for the development, testing, validation and documentation of the ICI, resulting in a scientifically credible, operationally feasible and regionally applicable methodology and Version 1.0 of the ICI Technical Development Manual.

Background

The Tropical and Vector-borne Diseases (TVD) programme of the Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Control (DPC) Cluster, WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO), supports Member States to implement regional frameworks for the control, elimination and eradication of malaria, neglected tropical diseases and other vector-borne diseases. Its objectives include providing technical support and institutional capacity building to national disease programmes.

Specific objectives

1. Translate the ICI Concept Note and approved Framework into a coherent methodology, including the conceptual model, domains, indicators, evidence requirements, assessment criteria and scoring approach.
2. Develop a prototype ICI methodology and assessment package, informed by evidence synthesis and country co-design with National Malaria Programmes and partners.
3. Design and technically oversee pilot testing and methodological validation of the ICI.
4. Consolidate the validated methodology into Version 1.0 of the ICI Technical Development Manual and prepare recommendations for its operational implementation.

Scope of Work

Under the direct supervision of the TVD Team Lead, and within the governance arrangements established by the Framework, the consultant will work closely with the Ad hoc Technical Working Group (TWG), WHO technical teams, National Malaria Programmes and technical partners to:

A. Evidence synthesis and methodology development
•    Review relevant normative guidance, institutional capacity assessment methodologies, measurement approaches and existing malaria and health-system assessment mechanisms, and identify opportunities for adaptation, integration and added value.
•    Translate the ICI Concept Note and approved Framework into a coherent methodological approach, refining the conceptual model, domains, indicators, evidence requirements, assessment criteria and scoring approaches.
•    Develop the prototype ICI methodology and assessment package, including domains, indicators, evidence requirements, scoring methodology, assessment instruments and guidance for pilot implementation.

B. Technical coordination, country co-design and consensus-building
•    Work with the TWG and relevant specialists to develop and progressively refine the ICI methodology, indicators, assessment tools and supporting technical documentation.
•    Design and facilitate structured engagement with National Malaria Programmes, Ministries of Health, WHO country offices and technical partners, so that country experience and operational realities inform the methodology.
•    Prepare methodological products and evidence for TWG review, document areas of agreement and methodological uncertainty, and incorporate agreed recommendations into successive versions.

C. Pilot testing and validation
•    Develop pilot protocols and tools, support pilot implementation, assess feasibility and usability, analyse findings and identify required methodological modifications.
•    With the TWG and relevant specialists, define and apply approaches for assessing the validity, reliability, reproducibility, feasibility and fitness for purpose of the ICI.

D. Documentation, traceability and transition
•    With the project secretariat, document all significant methodological decisions, evidence considered, stakeholder inputs, modifications and validation findings.
•    Maintain the ICI Technical Development Manual as a living document throughout development, and consolidate the validated methodology into Version 1.0 after final approval.
•    Prepare technical recommendations for the institutionalization, maintenance, future revision and potential digital implementation of the ICI.

Deliverables

1. Inception, work planning and reporting
       • Inception report with a detailed workplan aligned with the Framework and Operational Roadmap, the methodology development approach and agreed formats for all outputs, approved by the supervisor. 
       • Monthly progress reports against the workplan, including decisions taken and pending decision-gate reviews. 
       • Final consultancy report with results, lessons learned and recommendations.
   
2. Evidence synthesis and conceptual framework
       • Evidence synthesis report reviewing normative guidance, existing institutional capacity and health-system assessment approaches, and methodological options. 
       • Refined ICI conceptual framework: domains, definitions and proposed measurement architecture, reviewed by the TWG.

3. Indicator and prototype methodology development   
       • Draft indicator framework with indicators, evidence requirements, assessment criteria and preliminary scoring approach. 
       • Prototype methodology package: draft assessment tools, scoring system, evidence guidance and first draft of the ICI Technical                      Development Manual.

4. Country co-design and scientific review                       
       • Country co-design report consolidating feedback from National Malaria Programmes, WHO country offices and partners, with resulting methodological modifications.
       • TWG review packages and records of agreements, methodological uncertainties and decisions for each decision gate.

5. Pilot testing and validation
       • Pilot protocol and tools for the selected pilot country or countries. 
       • Pilot report analysing feasibility, usability and findings, with recommendations for refinement. 
       • Validation package: validation approach, supporting evidence and consolidated findings for TWG review.

6. Finalization, documentation and transition
       • Methodological decision log documenting decisions, evidence, stakeholder inputs and modifications. 
       • Pre-final methodology incorporating pilot and validation findings. 
       • ICI Technical Development Manual, Version 1.0: final validated methodology and supporting technical guidance. 
       • Transition package with recommendations for operationalization, stewardship, maintenance, future revision and potential digital implementation. 

Quality and acceptance of deliverables

Deliverables should be technically sound, consistent with the ICI Methodology Development and Validation Framework and applicable WHO guidance, and traceable to the evidence, stakeholder inputs and decisions on which they are based. They should be accompanied by editable source files and, where relevant, datasets and analysis files. The consultant will lead and coordinate the technical development but will not independently determine or approve the methodology: major methodological decisions and progression between development stages are subject to TWG review and the decision-gate arrangements in the Framework, and final approval rests with the TVD programme. Country data will be used and shared in line with WHO and national data governance arrangements.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational qualifications

Essential: degree in medicine and an advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in public health, epidemiology, health systems, health policy and management, implementation science, monitoring and evaluation, measurement science, organizational or institutional development, or another field directly relevant to the assignment.

Desirable: doctoral degree in a relevant discipline and/or advanced training in measurement, psychometrics, programme evaluation, implementation science or health systems research.

Experience

Essential:
•    At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in disease prevention and control at national and/or international levels, particularly in malaria, other vector-borne diseases or infectious diseases, including substantial experience in low- and middle-income countries.
•    Demonstrated experience leading the development or validation of multidimensional assessment frameworks, indices, scorecards, maturity models or comparable measurement methodologies.
•    Strong experience in indicator development, measurement frameworks, evidence synthesis, and quantitative and qualitative assessment methods.

Desirable:
•    Experience in malaria programme management, or in Malaria Programme Reviews or comparable national programme review processes.
•    Experience in health-system institutional capacity strengthening, institutional maturity models or index development.

Technical skills and knowledge

•    Expert knowledge of the management of at least one public health programme, notably malaria, other vector-borne diseases or infectious diseases.
•    Methodological leadership, sound scientific judgement, and strong conceptual and systems thinking.
•    Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, with the ability to integrate multiple sources of evidence.
•    Excellent technical writing skills and the ability to translate complex methodological concepts into clear, operational guidance.
•    Strong facilitation and consensus-building skills, and the ability to engage effectively with senior technical, government and country stakeholders.
•    Strong planning, coordination and risk-management skills, and the ability to work independently within formal governance and quality-assurance arrangements.

Languages and level required

Essential: Expert level of English or French. 

Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of the other or Portuguese. 

Location

On site: WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

Travel

Travel to pilot and co-design countries for country consultations, pilot implementation and validation activities, and to regional meetings and TWG consultations, as agreed with the supervisor.

Remuneration

Band level B - USD 7,000 - 9,980 per month.

Expected duration of contract

3 months. 

Additional Information

•    This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
•    Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
•    A written test may be used as a form of screening.
•    If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
•    For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
•    WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
•    WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
•    Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
•    WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
•    WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
•    Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
•    WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
•    Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html
For roster VNs:
•    The purpose of this vacancy is to develop a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in this advertised roster. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) upon conclusion of the selection process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection to a consultant contract. There is no commitment on either side.